UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Nine-year old Isabella “Bella” Carabin-Lindgren is the beneficiary of Penn State New Kensington’s annual community Blood Drive, to be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, in the campus Art Gallery in Upper Burrell.
Bella, a fourth-grader at Mary Queen of Apostles School in the nearby city of New Kensington, was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma when she was 10 months old. A stem cell transplant, chemotherapy and numerous blood transfusions arrested the disease, and she has lived in remission for the past eight years. In May, during a routine exam, doctors found that the disease had returned.
Ewing's sarcoma is a primary bone cancer that affects mainly children and adolescents. According to the American Cancer Society, it is rare, accounting for only one percent of all childhood cancers. Although it can occur at any age, it is most common in teens and less common among young adults and young children, and rare in older adults.
After surgery, Bella began chemotherapy in June, and the treatments will continue for a year at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. The campus blood drive will help replenish the supply used for Bella’s transfusions.
The Central Blood Bank will collect, store and deliver the blood. Donors of all blood types from the campus and the local community are encouraged to help increase the blood supply for the daughter of Meredith Carabin. A large turnout could shatter the campus donations record of 58, which was set in 2007. In the past 10 years, the campus, community and alumni have donated nearly 900 units of blood for use in the local area.
Elaine Zarichnak, the campus nurse, is heading the community effort. She is encouraging novice donors to use Bella’s story as the impetus for donating. Craig Synan, a senior criminal justice major, is heeding Zarichnak’s call. In two weeks, the Allison Park native and Hampton High School graduate will be sitting on a donating lounge chair for the first time.
"I have never given before, but this is for a great cause,” Synan said. “My father was fighting leukemia, so I know how the importance of this simple act could change or potentially save a life.”
The next campus blood drive is in April. Donors are eligible again in 56 days after giving, so the campus community doesn't have to wait until the spring drive to give blood.
Appointments are not necessary as walk-ins are welcome. A free cholesterol screening is available to each donor. The blood drive is made possible through the efforts of donors, canteen volunteers and Zarichnak.
For information about the blood drive, contact Zarichnak at 724-334-6066 or emz3@psu.edu.
(Student interviews were conducted by Jenna Swank, a public relations intern.)